Chu Vision Blog

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5 Reasons to Participate in a Clinical Trial Today

Posted: Jul 23, 2018

An FDA clinical trial is a study used to determine the safety and effectiveness of medical devices or medications. FDA Clinical trials are usually performed in phases, each lasting a predetermined amount of time, designed to test different aspects of a medical device or medication such as safety, effectiveness and benefits.

There are 5 main benefits of participating in a clinical trial:

1. Clinical trials advance medical technology and knowledge. Through clinical trials, the medical field is able to find new and more effective treatments to diseases. The medical field is continuously advancing and testing technology, devices and medications to improve patient care and treatment success.

Through participation in over 80 FDA clinical trials, Chu Vision Institute is able to gain a better understanding of eye disease and conditions, learn about current treatments and study the most up-to-date technology.

2. Clinical trials solve a problem. Clinical trials allow for improvements in current treatments and new solutions to old problems. At Chu Vision Institute, cataract surgery has evolved through clinical research and continues to be studied new treatments for its patients. Cataract surgery began as a manual process, with only mono-focal (one distance) lens implant options.

Today, Chu Vision Institute is able to customize cataract surgery with laser assisted cataract surgery and advanced lens options to reduce dependency on contacts or glasses after surgery. Chu Vision Institute has also been involved in refractive surgery studies and was the first in Minnesota to offer the SMILE laser vision correction procedure.

Through clinical trials, Chu Vision Institute is able to offer the most up-to-date technology and advancements in cataract and refractive surgery.

3. Clinical trials allow access to treatment. A clinical trial can allow you access to a new treatment before it’s available to everyone. Early access to new treatments can be beneficial if you have already tried other treatments without success, or if there isn’t anything currently available for your condition. Chu Vision Institute works to advance treatment options to allow patients more choices when deciding on a treatment plan.

In addition to gaining you access to new treatments, participation in clinical trials could provide your children, grandchildren or even great grandchildren with treatment options never thought possible before.

4. Clinical trials aid in staff education. Doctors, nurses and other medical staff working on clinical trials are highly educated in the study requirements and how to evaluate each patient during a study. The skills learned during clinical trials often translate into improved standard of care in clinical practice. During a clinical trial at Chu Vision Institute, you are treated as a VIP patient and will receive thorough eye examinations by highly trained doctors and staff to monitor the clinical trial progress and the health of your eyes.

5. Clinical trials are highly regulated. Clinical trials are regulated both by IRBs (institutional review boards) as well as the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). These regulations help protect patient safety and patient rights during participation in a clinical trial, and also ensure trial protocols are being followed. Click here to see the FDA’s resource for patients considering clinical trials.

Clinical trials vary in length, time commitment, restrictions and qualifications. If you are interested in participating, check with your doctor to see if there are trials available to you or click here to learn more about clinical trial offerings in your area.

Chu Vision Institute is often enrolling in clinical trials, click here to view the current list of clinical trials or contact Nic Jacobs at 952-835-1235 to learn more about what is currently offered.